Each time I post another item to our skull illusions section, I pledge myself it was the last time I did so (as they usually work in pretty much the same way). I fear if I over-bomb you with similar illusions you’ll soon grow tired of them, thus stop visiting this monumental website. However, running a decent “Skull Illusions” category wouldn’t be it without including this beautiful series of charcoal drawings by Tom French, an artist who has been greatly inspired by Charles Allan Gilbert’s optical illusion entitled All Is Vanity (1892). I promise, there will be no more skull illusions for some time now ;D Be sure to check Tom’s homepage for more awesome pencil drawings!
His works are predominantly figurative. He carefully combines detailed photorealism with strong elements of abstraction and surrealism, focusing on the reflection of the conscious and subconscious mind. French’s work often treads the fine line between the beautiful and unsettling, combining technically tight, classical charcoal drawings with carefree, loose and ostensibly unfinished abstract forms. By fusing the technical with lively abstraction French brings life and movement to his compositions. His work seamlessly merges the use of academic tradition with contemporary urban realism.
